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Prince Fielder went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer in Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Angels. It was one of only nine hits between the two teams in the game, and the lone hit Fielder has had this spring in 10 trips to the plate (he’s walked twice). The big man batted .261/.401/.471 with 32 homers and 83 RBI in 2010 and is looking to better those numbers in his walk year. (Rotoworld)

Brewers and 1B Prince Fielder avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $15.5 million contract. By all indications, this will be Fielder’s final season with the Brewers. And he’s being paid quite handsomely. The 26-year-old batted .261/.401/.471 with 32 homers and 83 RBI in 2010 and will aim to do even better in 2011 with free agency looming. A number of teams will try for him next winter. (Rotoworld / Jon Heyman on Twitter)

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke expects Prince Fielder to be with the Brewers in 2011. “I expect him to, yes,” said Roenicke. “With somebody as high quality a player as he is, I don’t think those guys move as often as you think they will.” The Brewers are reportedly resigned to the fact that they will be unable to re-sign Fielder after this season. The 26-year-old batted .261/.401/.471 with 32 homers and 83 RBI this past season. He figures to make somewhere around $14 million through the arbitration process this winter and will be a free agent after the 2011 campaign. (RotoWorld)

According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti has shot down rumors of a trade for Prince Fielder. That one sure died fast. Tony Jackson of ESPN Los Angeles reported that the Dodgers were talking about a deal that would send Jonathan Broxton and James Loney to the Brewers for the slugging first baseman, but it appears that those rumors didn’t have legs. It doesn’t strike us as a solid return for the Brewers, anyway, so it’s probably better that this one is dismissed as fiction. (RotoWorld)

According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, before they signed Adam Dunn the White Sox put in one last call to the Brewers to “exchange thoughts” about Prince Fielder. Brewers GM Doug Melvin said they “weren’t close” to a deal with the Sox because “teams aren’t really looking to trade pitchers at this point.” Fielder will be a free agent following the 2011 season and is a good bet to be traded, though Melvin said the team hasn’t made up their mind about what they want to do with them. The first baseman is coming off a disappointing season where he batted .261/.401/.471 with 32 homers.(RotoWorld)

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he hasn’t made up his mind regarding the future of Prince Fielder. “You always want to keep your options open, keep your flexibility,” said Melvin. “When a player approaches free agency, you’ve got to keep yourself open. If I got an offer I can’t refuse, why would I say (beforehand) I wouldn’t trade him?” Melvin clearly hasn’t ruled out trading Fielder, but the team is unlikely to get a substantial package in return for someone who could make around $14 million in arbitration this winter and is a virtual lock to test the free agent waters next offseason. (RotoWorld)

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Brewers are leaning towards keeping Prince Fielder this winter. There is a long list of free agent first basemen available this offseason, so the potential return in a trade will likely be impacted. Fielder, 26, will be a free agent after the 2011 season and Brewers general manager Doug Melvin recently said that he has set spring training as a deadline for negotiations on a contract extension. If the Brewers are out of it next summer, he’ll almost certainly be dealt. (RotoWorld)

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he is not shopping Prince Fielder. “We’re not shopping Prince,” said Melvin. “I’d like to keep him. He’s a homegrown player who wants to play every inning of every game. But we’d like to get something done by the end of the off-season. I don’t want to negotiate during the year.” Melvin said that he has set spring training as a deadline for negotiations on a contract extension. Fielder, 26, will be a free agent after the 2011 season. (RotoWorld)

Baseball Prospectus’ Eric Seidman listed several Roadrunners in this feature, that takes a look back at some players who will not be regaled with hardware but who performed admirably under the radar in 2010.

Starting Pitcher

Ian Kennedy (4.2 WARP): The Diamondbacks turned Max Scherzer into Edwin Jackson and Kennedy and flipped Jackson to the White Sox for Dan Hudson and prospects. All told, they ended up with two very solid starters under team control for six years apiece. Kennedy relies on command and control, and unlike in his brief tenure with the Yankees, both of those attributes were on display last season. In addition to keeping the ball on the ground, he even began striking hitters out at a rate far exceeding expectations.

Relief Pitcher

John Axford: Axford stepped into the closer position when it became evident that Trevor Hoffman had virtually nothing left in the tank. In 50 games, the mustachioed man produced an impressive 3.85 WXRL that ranked eighth in the league. He allowed just one home run, which certainly helped given he was no stranger to the free pass.

Sean Marshall: Carlos Marmol hogged most of the headlines in Chicago last year as far as relievers went, but Marshall, a failed southpaw starter, held the opposition in check and fell just behind Lidge with a 2.78 WXRL. His strikeout rate soared to 29.3 percent and he kept the ball in the yard as well. Still under team control and only 28 years old, he could help stabilize an up-and-down bullpen.

First Base

Prince Fielder (5.0 WARP): This was probably the toughest position to find a sneaky-good player given that it broke down into two distinct groups—the Albert Pujolses and the Adam LaRoche Clones. In one corner we had the stat demons who were publicized all season. In the other corner stood the first basemen whose numbers were not as solid given the context of the position. Fielder sort of fell in between both groups as he topped a .400 OBP for the second straight year, and despite dropping off by .131 with his slugging percentage, he put up a .316 TAv.

Third Base

Chase Headley (4.0 WARP): Headley didn’t get much notoriety last season, in large part because his unadjusted numbers were not terribly impressive, but they translated well given the league average and his park. He also added solid defense. He isn’t going to blossom into the next David Wright or Ryan Zimmerman, but he provides a very cost-effective option for a team hoping to remain a playoff contender on a shoestring budget.

Outfield

Drew Stubbs (5.3 WARP): Jay Bruce gets most of the attention in the Reds outfield, but Stubbs really put together a solid season in his own right. He launched 22 home runs and stole 30 bases en route to a .284 TAv, adding decent defense in center field. His OBP last season does not belie his ability to take a walk, primarily due to the fact that he strikes out so frequently. Figuring out a way to reduce those empty swinging ABs will catapult him from a solid player to a great player. However, as we have seen time and time again, this is not as easy as turning a switch on or off.